This pandemic is causing a lot of chaos and a lot of distracted driving. Since auto body shops are considered an essential business type, they are likely to be kept busy with collision repairs. Rear end collisions are one of most common reasons a vehicle is brought to a body shop. Though rear end collision repair is usually simple, there are instances where damage is hidden from the naked eye. This is why body shops and vehicle owners have to be hyper vigilant when looking at rear end collision damage. Our article this week will focus on hidden problems cause by rear end collisions.

Even if you are not a body shop owner but have been involved in a rear end collision, watch out for your trunk afterwards. Even if you feel that there is not enough to damage to repair, you may not notice the trunk lock misfunctioning. This leaves the potential for problems such as the trunk randomly popping open while the vehicle is parked. This can be a great way for thieves to snatch your belongings. The trunk may even pop open when driving down a busy highway. This can obstruct your vision and be a safety hazard.

Rear end collisions may also damage the water tight seal around the trunk. Make sure you check the seal thoroughly after the accident. You don’t want to find out later when all of your belongings get wet. On the other hand, the trunk lock could be broken in a way that makes it difficult to open. This will be very inconvenient when trying to load up groceries in the pouring rain.

Rear end collisions can also cause alignment damage which is very hard to see with the naked eye. Alignment issues can usually be felt and not seen. Your steering wheel may vibrate and feel wobbly as well as the whole car itself. Vehicles that are misaligned often make driving down windy roads difficult. Driving a car that is misaligned also causes a lot of damage to the tires.

The electrical system of a vehicle can also be damaged by rear end collisions. Wires that control your sound system, brake, and tail lights could be shaken loose and eventually stop working. Your electrical system should be secured first because if your brake and tail lights are not working, there is the potential to get into another accident. Whether you’re out driving today or staying home and social distancing, Auto Body Specialties hopes you are staying safe!